Alpine Brewing Thread

Nelson, Duet, HB, PH are all brewed at green flash now, only one-offs and such are brewed up the hill.

 

Thanks Reaper. And they don't bottle those one-off IPAs like Bad Boy or Keene, do they?

 

No they do not.

Cheers…...

 

I appreciate the knowledge, OTB. Even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear...

 

Just had a bottle, damn solid, and assume the bottle date was 10/27 based on the EJB date. Surprised the glass has ABC logo as opposed 2 GF. Better than the one bomber of PH I'd had before several years back. Paid $20 @ Westwood WF, which said it hit their shelves today.

 

I opened a bottle of the 6 pack and thought it was horrible. It's GF to the fullest. Overly bitter, resinous water. There was zero citrus, topical fruits, nada. Lots of people keep saying they're "close" but they really aren't. Its fine though, plenty of other beer to drink around here, and I have no problem making the trip up the hill.

 

I wonder when theyre going to address it. There is no way they are oblivious to all this negative feedback. Their products are suffering because of this deal

 

Its just strange hearing local people say things like "on point", or "really close" when it comes to these beers. I've never been that dickhead elitist beer drinker, but Alpine beer is really what got me into hoppy beers years ago, and the difference is so noticeable it sucks. I wonder if some people are so happy that "Alpine" beer is now regularly available that they are kind of talking themselves into thinking this beer is good? I dunno. Maybe some people do like it, and that's great if that's the case.

 

I think those who cant access the brewery regularly are fine with it because it is more readily available. But anyone who was a consistent Alpine Drinker can tell the difference. I used to go every other week to fill my two growlers and to buy bottles, now since the merger and the new brewpub ive only gone down twice. Part of me was excited, i thought id be able to fill my growlers at green flash and save myself 20 minutes, but that was completely gone once i tried it. Yes the Nelson has gotten better, but just because its better, doesn't mean its great. Its now like every GF hoppy beer, mediocre at best, it used to be world class. Hoppy Birthday is completely undrinkable, and it used to rival Nelson for me, its a shame.

 

I think what you can take from the changes is this. Regular Alpine offerings (Duet Nelson Pure Hoppiness) are now in the hands of Green Flash. Many have shared their thoughts about not being thrilled about this. However, the other stuff that is still brewed at Alpine (Bad Boy High Kicks Keene Idea) are what you should be after now moving forward. They are brewed at Alpine and represent the quality that you are used to.

 

My latest fantasy is they brew an OG version of Nelson they call "The Beer Formerly Known as Nelson" for brewpub drinking and growler fills.

 

What no one probably wants to hear is that Alpine beers have always been a batch-to-batch experience. The move to Green Flash doesn't really make much difference in the bigger picture. I'm sure they'll find their way, eventually.

I've been drinking Alpine beers for 12 years. Used to get my weekly fix at O'Brien's, and would make regular trips to the brewery for growlers.

I remember sitting in the "new" Liar's club that they tried opening up in Alpine back in 2006 and having a Duet. A few stools down the bar, a local old-timer was sitting next to me and ordered the same thing. We both had our first sips and turned to each other and said "Wow". We chatted a bit and we both agreed that some of the batches that were coming out around that time weren't "as good" as we'd remembered. We both agreed that the Duet that afternoon was amazing, but that Pure Hoppiness hadn't been as good lately.

There's a big spotlight on Alpine these past few years, and the Green Flash part has produced a lot of grumblings, which I can understand. But the reality is that the quality was always variable, especially with the bottles. Adding the taste difference with Green Flash really isn't that unexpected.

All beer is like this when it gets moved from the original location, or scales up. But the reality is that batches are always going to vary, even from the same brewer, using the same brewery. Either way, that's just the way it is. Wipeout IPA used to be god-like when Bagby was at Pizza Port in Carlsbad. So, so good. That was years ago. The bottled version is a different beer, but still great to me. In the same vein, I always thought that Swami's IPA was a so-so IPA at Pizza Port Solana Beach. Now, I find that I'm liking the Swami's in the can way more than I ever liked it in the brewery, on tap. Go figure.

Hooray, my first post here.

 

*Nelson. Prefix operator.

 

I agree, those are fantastic beers. but sometimes i want bottles and Badboy fills are not an everyday thing.

 

That's what the 32 oz is for! Who can complain about 10 more oz of bad boy.

 

Very much this. Trying to get the first one down right now, it's tough. What a shame.

 

I'm not. Nelson and Duet are still way off. Nelson tastes like Alpine Nelson on steroids. Duet tastes like something else, altogether. I haven't had Hoppy Birthday much, but the GF bottle I had last week or the week before was pretty decent--that's the one I'll give them.

 

Totally agree w the description of the latest batch as Nelson on steroids. Aroma and color great -- flavor close but ultimately dominated by a persistent level of bitterness just no present in the prototype. Glad to have it though in Boston on this seasonable Nov evening.......cheers Alpine lovers.

 

So I wanted to see what everyone thought of the greenflash batches of alpine? Thoughts?

 

A+++ shitposting, would read again.